Saxony Hills - Blanket Robe

These blankets are robe size, the size preferred by Native Americans for ceremonial purposes and wrapping about oneself as a robe. They are impressive as wall hangings and practical when folded on a sofa or at the foot of a bed. Felt bound. 82% pure virigin wool/18% cotton. Dry clean. Made in the USA.

The Saxony Hills Blanket references the changing landscape of Navajo weaving in the 1800s. Spanish explorers had introduced Churro sheep to the Southwest in the late 17th century. The Churro bred by the Navajo produced a somewhat coarse, long-staple wool that was hand-spun and woven into shoulder robes or blankets, shirts and sashes. Hand-spun wool from these animals was the main source of yarn for Navajo blankets until the 1860s. Then Saxony yarns arrived in the Southwest by way of the Santa Fe Trail and later the railroad. By the mid-1900s, Saxony yarns were used by the Navajos for general weaving. The Saxony Hills Blanket incorporates traditional, geometric Navajo motifs - diamonds, stepped triangles and Spider Woman cross patterns. Unnapped.